Characteristics of Living Things – JSS1 Basic Science Lesson Note (First Term)

Living things are plants and animals. Plants exist as trees, flowers and herbs, while animals are classified as vertebrates and invertebrates. Plants and animals differ in movement, reproduction, nutrition, irritability, excretion, respiration, feeding, sense organs and shape. This note lists examples of each group and compares them.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• name the three forms in which plants exist and give examples of each;
• classify animals as vertebrates or invertebrates and give examples;
• state differences between plants and animals in movement, reproduction, nutrition and the other characteristics in the table.

What are the characteristics of plants and animals?

In what forms do plants exist?

Plants exist in different forms. These are:

• Trees, e.g. mango, orange, guava, pawpaw.
• Flowers, such as ice plants, hibiscus, yellow bush and pride of Barbados.
• Herbs, like crotalaria, carpet grass and Bahamas grass.

How are animals classified?

Animals can be classified as:

1. Vertebrates, e.g. man, cat, goat, sheep, cow, chicken, rabbit.
2. Invertebrates, e.g. tsetse fly, earthworm, cockroach.

What are the differences between plants and animals?

Evaluation

1. Mention the two broad classifications of living things.
2. Give five examples of living things and non-living things.

Assignment

1. List the three forms in which plants exist and give two examples of each.
2. State four differences between plants and animals.